Lawn chair



H. E. NOLAN Feb. 16, 1937.

LAWN CHAIR Filed Sept. '7, 1955 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to furniture and particuy larly to steel lawn chairs.

An object of my invention is to provide a steel lawn chair wherein the seat and back covering is formed of a single tubular member made of flexible sheet material snugly but removably telescoped over portions of a suitable chair frame.

Another object is to provide such a chair with a conveniently accessible article supporting rack.

Still another object is to provide such a chair which is simple. convenient and inexpensive of manufacture and which may be readily partially disassembled and packed in compact form for purposes of shipment.

'I'hese and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Fig. l is a front view of an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially broken away and partially sectional side view, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawing, my chair comprises in general a frame formed of suitably bent and joined elongated elements, preferably of metal, and a sleeve or covering formed of exible sheet material such as fabric telescoped onto portions of the frame to produce seat and back structures in conjunction therewith.

The general frame of my chair includes a pair of similar, parallel, horizontally spaced, vertically disposed side frames each constructed of resilient fiat bar material such as metal bent to produce a horizontally disposed floor or ground engaging element 5, an element 6 extending upwardly from the forward end'of the iloor engaging element 5 and having a coil orhelix 6a formed in the medial portion thereof, and a horizontal seat supporting element 1 extending rearwardly from the upper` end of the upwardly extending element 6. The coil 6a is shown as comprising a single turn but, if desired, may comprise two or more turns. While the material from which the side frames are made has been shown and described as flat bar material, it should be obvious that bar material or tubular material of various cross-sec.

tional shapes may be used if desired.

'I'he two side frames described above are placed in vertically disposed, horizontally spaced parallel relation and means is provided to maintain the same in that relation. To this end a brace or cross-bar 8 extends between and is secured at (Cl. 15S- 50) its ends to the upper portions of the upwardly extending elements 6 of the respective side frames. A generally U-shaped iioor engaging member 9, of tubular cross-section to provide sockets in the free ends thereof, is attached to the ground engaging elements 5 by telescoping the free ends of the U-shaped member 9 over the rear end portions of the respective ground engaging elements E. The cross-sectional shape and size of the material forming the U-sliaped member 9 is, at least at the free end portions thereof, such as to fit snugly on the ground engaging elements 5. A slight oiiset is made in the rear portions of the ground engaging elements 5 at 5a so that the respective lower sides of the ground engaging elements 5 and the U-shaped member 9 will be flush.

The ground engaging elements 5 and the U- shaped member 9 form a base for my chair and together with the upwardly extending elements 6 form a chair seat supporting structure. 'I'he seat supporting elements 1, supported and held in spaced relation by other portions of my chair structure, comprise a seat supporting frame.

A back supporting frame is provided for cooperative association with the seat frame formed in part by the seat supporting elements 1. This back frame may consist of a generally inverted U-shaped member I0 formed of tubular material with the lower portions Illa of the respective legs thereof bent to project horizontally forward through a moderate distance. The open free ends of the U-shaped member I0 comprise sockets which are telescoped over the rear end portions of the respective seat supporting elements l so that the seat supporting elements 1 and the corresponding legs of the U-shaped member l0 cooperate to form in effect a pair of parallel L- shaped seat and back supporting elements connected at their upper ends by a cross piece comprising the horizontal upper portion of the U- shaped member i0. Enlargements 1a may be formed on the seat supporting elements 1 for abutment by the free ends of the forwardly projecting portions lila of the U-shaped back frame I0 to limit the extent of the telescopic engagement.

A pair of chair arms or arm rests I i are provided and are respectively disposed above the coils 6 ata level somewhat above the seat supporting elements 1 as shown. Each arm rest il has secured to the lower side thereof a supporting bracket I2 including support arms |2a depending below the arm rest il and secured at their lower ends to respectively the forward and rearward sides of the coil 6a by suitable means such as the rivets I3. The support arms I2a extend past the seat supporting elements 'I outwardly thereof and in slightly spaced relation thereto.

Means is provided to cooperate with the seat and back supporting frames previously described to form a seat and back for my chair. To lthis end a tubular member I4 formed of flexible sheet material such as fabric and preferably having its upper end closed, is slipped downwardly upon the seat and back supporting frame comprising the back frame I and seat supporting elements l in snug telescopic relation thereto. Obviously the cover or tubular member III is readily removable from the chair structure for washing or replacement. Support of the arms II from the coil 6a instead of from the seat supporting elements 'l enables the use of a single slip-on seat and back cover such as described.

An article supporting rack is formed by extending suitable structure between corresponding portions of the lower halves of the respective coils 6a.. This structure may be formed of a series of spaced, parallel horizontal bars I5 each secured at its respective ends to corresponding points on the respective coils 6a by suitable means such as the rivets I6. While not illustrated, it should be obvious that other types of material, such as sheet material or wire mesh would serve well in place of the. series of bars I5.

My chair may be sufficiently disassembled to permit very compact packing of the same for purposes of shipment or storage. The cover I4 may be removed as previously described, the U- shaped back frame I0 may be disconnected and removed from the seat supporting elements 'I and the U-shaped floor engaging member 9 may be disconnected and removed from the floor engaging elements 5. The parts of the chair, disassembled as described, may obviously be compact- 1y packed in a relatively small box or shipping case. It is to be noted that the described disassembly and subsequent reassembly of the chair may be quickly and easily effected without the use of tools and by persons of relatively little mechanical ability.

The resilient coil 6a lends springiness to the chair to contribute to the comfort of the user and at the same time provides support for arm rests and an article supporting shelf.

It is apparent that I have invented a. novel, simple, inexpensive, and comfortable form of knock-down lawn chair of light weight and attractive appearance.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of my invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed isz- 1. A chair including a seat, a base, a pair of resilient coils for supporting said seat disposed parallel to each other at respectively opposite sides of said seat and each of said coils being connected at its respective end s to said seat and said base, a pair of chair arms respectively disposed above said opposite sides and arm supporting means for each of said arms connecting the same to a portion of a corresponding one of said coils relatively remote from the seat carrying end thereof, said supporting means comprising the sole means connecting said arms to the remainder of said chair whereby said seat Amay move vertically independently of said arms.

2. A chair including a. pair of spaced parallel side frames each comprising an elongated resilient member bent to form a. horizontal floor engaging element, an element extendingl vertically from the forward end of said floor engaging `element and having a coil formed therein and a seat supporting element extending rearwardly vfrom the upper end of said vertically extending element, a. generally U-shaped element having sockets in the free ends thereof in which the rear ends of the floor engaging elements of the respective side frames are disposed, a back frame of generally inverted U-shape having lower end portions of the respective legs thereof bent forwardly and having sockets in the free end's thereof in which the rear ends of the seat supporting elements of the respective side frames are disposed, a horizontal cross member connecting corresponding points on the respective ones of said vertically extending elements, and flexible material extending across and supported by said back frame and said pair of seat supporting elements.

3. In combination with a chair including a base, a seat spaced above said base and parallel similar coiled elements connecting said seat to said base at opposite sides thereof, and means extending between the lower portions of the coils of the respective coiled elements to form an article supporting rack.

4. In combination with a chair including a base, a seat spaced above 'said base and parallel coiled elements connecting said seat to said base at opposite sides thereof, a series of parallel bars extending between respectively corresponding points on the lower portions of the respective coiled elements and connected to said coiled elements for support therefrom whereby said bars form an article supporting rack.

5. In combination with a chair including a base, a seat spaced above said base and parallel similar coiled'elements connecting said seat to said base at opposite sides'thereof, means extending between the lower portions of the coils of the respectiveJ coiled elements'to form an article supporting rack, a pair of chair arms situated above respectively opposite sides of said seat, and supports for said arms mounted on said coiled elements.

6.,A chair including a continuous seat and back. a base, a pair of spaced upwardly extending, curved spring elements connected with the forward portion of said seat for wholly supporting said seat to permit up and down swinging movement thereof, said spring elements being disposed at respectively opposite sides of said seat and beingconnected at their lower portion with said base, a pair of chair arms respectively disposed above the opposite sides of said seat and wholly supported from said spring element at points considerably above said base, said arm supporting connections with said spring velements being spaced at the sides of said seat Cil whereby said seat may swingably move up and down independently of said arms.

HARRY- E. NOLAN. 

